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The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation was established by the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry to raise awareness of psychiatry and mental health disorders affecting the elderly, eliminate the stigma of mental illness and treatment, promote healthy aging strategies, and increase access to quality mental health care for the elderly. The GMHF is governed by its own Board of Directors and has a separate budget from the AAGP budget and is self-supporting. The GMHF revenues are dependent up individual contributes to sustain the programs of the Foundation. The Foundation is the only one of its kind solely devoted to mental health and aging. The GMHF focuses on the following programmatic themes:
Activities and Services Outreach and Education To educate the public and provide resources, the GMHF maintains a presence on the Internet through its website, www.GMHFonline.org. The Foundation's site features consumer information, news, resources, and a find-a-doctor feature, which lists full members of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry who are accepting new patients. The Foundation's aging and mental health series of brochures covers such topics as anxiety, depression, substance abuse and misuse, healthy aging, caregiving and sleep disorders. Single copies of brochures are provided free of charge; bulk quantities may be purchased at cost. A new brochure on preparing and coping with disaster will be released in the fall of 2009. Scholars Fund Introduced this year, the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation's Scholars Fund was developed to expose medical students and young physicians to the rewarding field of geriatric psychiatry in an effort to increase the number of medical professionals expertly trained to care for the growing older population. Funds will be used to support Scholars' activities during the AAGP Annual Meeting, including a structured mentorship program; provide scholarships to AAGP's focused educational programs such as the Maintenance of Certification Conferences; pay for memberships in the Association to give trainees full access to all AAGP member programs and activities; and develop tools for medical students and residents to make informed choices about their medical careers. For a donation of $2,500, an individual or organization may support one trainee as an Honors Scholar for full participation in the GMHF Scholars Program. These prestigious scholarships will be named for the contributor (or his or her designee) and will be granted to the most highly qualified applicants as determined by a selection committee. Donors to this year's program will be invited to a special reception on the afternoon of Saturday, March 6, for an opportunity to meet the trainees benefiting from these scholarships and celebrate the achievements of the Scholars Program. Donations to the Scholars Fund received before October 1 will be used in 2010; those received after October 1 will be applied to the 2011 program. Public Education Campaigns GMHF is continuing its public education campaign on late life depression. Entitled, Depression Kills – Treatment Works, the Campaign has a special webpage (www.treatmenthelps.org) and materials. Public Education Forums GMHF sponsors public education sessions such as the one that will be held at the 2010 Annual Meeting focused on healthy aging. GMHF Board of Directors 2009–2010
Sanjay Gupta, MD, Chair
Don't Miss GMHF's Events During the 2010 Annual Meeting! The Foundation is sponsoring several programs of interest to AAGP Annual Meeting attendees.
GMHF Scholars Reception To celebrate the new Scholars program, honor the trainees accepted to the program, and thank the many donors to the Scholars Fund, the Foundation is hosting a Scholars Reception on March 6.
GMHF St. Patrick's Day Party Since Savannah will host one of the country's largest St. Patrick's Day parades less than two weeks after the AAGP Annual Meeting, the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation will get a jump on the fun with its own St. Patrick's Day Party. Support the work of the Foundation and enjoy a party with traditional Irish music, food from the Emerald Isle, step dancers, and some sing-along tunes. Purchase your tickets when you register for the Annual Meeting.
GMHF Consumer Forum on Successful Aging Chaired by Eric Pfeiffer, M.D., this special forum, open to meeting attendees and the public, will help define successful aging. Speakers will discuss how to: preserve optimal health and mental health, maintain the brain, maintain independence, preserve wealth, and prepare to say good-bye with dignity. Topics will also include places and occupations for retirement; the importance of social connections; memory problems; the inner, spiritual, and sexual life of older person; and what younger people can learn from successfully aging individuals.
Model Programs Providing Mental Health Service in the Home Chair: Burton Reifler, MD Presenters: Nancy Harvey, LMSW; Deirdre Johnston, MD Discussant: Martha Bruce, PhD Learn about different programs providing mental health services in the home, including the Geriatric Outreach (GO) program at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the Maximizing Independence (MIND) at Home program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and the Service Program for Older Persons (SPOP) in Manhattan. SPOP received the 2009 GMHF/AAGP Deirdre Johnston Award for Excellence and Innovation in Geriatric Mental Health Outreach Services. >> Learn More About GMHF Events at the Annual Meeting (PDF) Support the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation Help Spread the Word Help the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation reach more people—older adults, their families and friends—by donating. Your donation will help spread the word that mental illness is not a normal part of aging and that help is available. To donate, visit www.GMHFonline.org and select "How to Contribute," call 301/654-7850, ext. 100, or visit the GMHF booth. Support the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation by:
1. Making a general contribution to support the important work of GMHF. All gifts are tax-deductible up to the amount permissible by law. Contributions can be made on the AAGP Annual Meeting Registration Form. All contributors to the general fund of the GMFH will be recognized in the AAGP Final Program and GMHF website.To make a gift online at GMHF's secure website, go to www.GMHFonline.org and click on the "How to Contribute" link or phone 301.654.7850. If you prefer to mail your gift, you may send it to Geritric Mental Health Foundation, P.O. Box 758945, Baltimore, MD 21275-8945. GMHF Donors Total as of July 31, 2009: $22,546 (Scholars Fund: $11,200) The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation wishes to thank the following individuals for their gifts in 2009. Benefactor ($2,000 and above)
Dr. Dan Blazer (Named Scholarship) Patrons ($1,000 to $1,999)
Dr. Sanjay Gupta Supporters ($500 to $999)
Mr. Vijay Murugappan in memory of Bernice Tadlock Donors ($250 to $499)
Accenture Contributors (up to $249)
Dr. Marc Agronin
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